Frontal genesis of moisture atmosphere during the early 2008 persistent freezing-rain event in southern China

From January 10 to February 2, 2008, a severe and persistent freezing-rain event occurred in southern and southwestern China. Here we use an observational analysis to compare the persistent freezing-rain event in the early 2008 with the winter precipita- tion in the late 2007 over south of the Yangtze River (Jiangnan). The persistent freezing-rain event was directly linked to the activity of quasi-stationary front. The gradient of equivalent temperature (ET) can well indicate the frontal genesis of moist atmosphere (moisture front) and its activity as well as its relationship with precipitation belt. The precipitation types (snow and freezing rains) are related to the vertical structure of moisture front. The inversion profile of ET vertical distribution is a typical synoptic condition that caused the freezing-rain event. The horizontal gradient of ET with a criterion of 10℃ / 100 km, which reflects the accumulation and release of atmospheric energy, can be applied to predict the precipitation 5-10 days in advance.